The chief justice remarked that those who caused defamation of Pakistan in the world will have to face punishment, adding that news reports regarding fake degree scandal rife in local and international media.

He said that if the information was correct, the authorities should take action to curb such activities, tarnishing the name of Pakistan.

“Our heads hanged in shame because of this scandal,” he said. The chief justice also observed that the case had surfaced earlier and several cases in this regard are being heard by courts.

The scandal of fake degrees was first disclosed by New York Time in 2015, accusing a Pakistan-based company, Axact of selling degrees of hundreds of fake universities and schools run by the software company to people around the world, including Indians based in the Middle East.

The expose was followed by a crackdown by Pakistani authorities but no one has been prosecuted as yet within the country.